![]() By today’s standards, this simple dance seems incredibly tame. While all forms of dancing were considered a bit scandalous in the 1920s, The Shimmy was the considered the most salacious of all 1920s dance styles. The Black Bottom even comes with written instructions, which are as follows: “Hop down front then doodle back / Mooch to your left then mooch to the right / Hands on your hips and do the mess around / Break a leg until you're near the ground.” While these slang terms don’t mean much to us now, they were used in the 1920s to spread the word about this popular dance craze. It soon became even more popular than “The Charleston” among the general population. Once it hit the stage, it became a true sensation. In 1924 it had worked its way to Harlem and was subsequently performed by Ann Pennington and Tom Patricola in a Broadway musical revue. While the dance originated in New Orleans in the early parts of the 1900s, the name references an area of Detroit that was known as the “Black Bottom.” The dance itself was a staple among African Americans in the South. Like many other dances that became popular during the 1920s, The Black Bottom originated in African American dance halls. View selection of Roaring 20s dresses The Black Bottom The dance itself was originally described by critics as “acrobatic,” “eccentric,” and “a whirling couples dance.” It was the very first popular dance to incorporate a breakaway step and an 8-count rhythm. There, the dance was then adapted for the stage and was performed in a popular Broadway production called “Ziegfeld Follies.” The Texas Tommy would eventually turn into “The Lindy Hop” of the 1930s and fuel the swing dance craze of the 1940s. Popular dancer Ethel Williams had performed the Texas Tommy in San Francisco and brought the movements back with her to New York City. It wasn’t until it was danced at The Fairmont Hotel - a “respectable” white dance hall - that it rose to popularity among the masses. ![]() It originated in San Francisco in around 1910, where it reportedly was a staple in African American dance halls. The Texas Tommy is considered the first swing dance to hit dance halls. This popular dance was emulated throughout the city and eventually became known as “Fox’s Trot” before becoming just “The Fox Trot.” At its most basic, The Fox Trot combines forward and sideways footwork, all to music set in 4/4 time. He and his “American Beauties” performed trotting steps set to ragtime music, which thoroughly entertained the masses. In 1914, a man named Henry Fox was hired to perform a dancing Vaudeville act on one of New York City’s biggest stages. Some people even argue that the 1970’s dance craze “The Hustle” can thank the Fox Trot for its origins. It is even is referenced in dance moves that were popular during the 1940s and 1950s. This dance rose to popularity in the mid 1910s and remained popular through the 1920s, 1930s. You can’t talk about popular 1920s dance styles without mentioning the Fox Trot. ![]() View selection of 1920s dresses The Fox Trot It also is typically set to exciting jazz music, just like the song from which it earned its name. The dance itself consists of twisting your feet, kicking your legs, and swinging your arms in unison. In 1923, the hit Broadway show “Running Wild” featured a wild dance set to a quick-paced 4/4 tune by composer James P Johnson called “The Charleston.” Not long after its on stage debut, it was a dance craze that swept the nation and became popular among flappers and their male counterparts. It wasn’t until it hit Broadway, however, that it became a part of the larger cultural consciousness. The dance moves from the Charleston first originated in African-American Harlem dance halls in the early 1920s. It can be performed either solo or with a partner, making it very popular among partiers in during the Jazz Age. When the Roaring Twenties is represented in pop culture, a version of this dance is typically performed. Without a doubt, The Charleston is one of the most iconic 1920s dance styles.
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